Lever latch construction for a split clamping ring



Sept-5, 1967 E. E. SCHAEFER LEVER LATCH CONSTRUCTION FOR A SPLIT CLAMPING RING Filed Aug. 27, 1965 9w mwwwmw QM m6 ww diva wdE Sc/mfex Q Q Q mm wwmwww m United States Patent 3,339,961 LEVER LATCH CONSTRUCTION FOR A SPLIT CLAMPING RING Edward E. Schaefer, 3813 N. Harlem Ave., Winnetka, Ill. 60093 Filed Aug. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 483,127 Claims. (Cl. 292256.69)

, This invention relates to split clamping rings, and more particularly to a latch construction for holding the swingable actuating lever of such a ring in a ring-contracted position.

Most split clamping rings of the type utilized to secure covers to the tops of cylindrical, fiberboard drums usually employ some form of latch construction, including a pivotal latch arm, for engaging and holding the swingable actuating lever of the ring in a ring-contracted position closely adjacent to or in engagement with the ring. While such latchconstructions reliably perform their intended function when new or undamaged, many are easily damaged during shipment or handlingof the associated container and cover on which the clamping ring is mounted. Consequently, difficulty may be experienced disengaging the latch arm from the lever to permit expansion of the ring and removal of the container lid, or engagement of the latch arm with the lever when it is desired to again secure the lid on the container.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved latch construction for maintaining the swingable actuating lever of an eX- pansible and contractable split clamping ring in a ringcontracted position.

A more particular object is to provide a novel latch construction for a split clamping ring of the foregoing character which is capable of withstanding the bumping and jarring usually encountered during shipment or handling of an associated container on which the ring is mounted.

A further object is to provide a novel latch construction for the swingable actuating lever of a split clamping ring which permits the free end of the lever to lie flat against the outer surface of the ring when the lever is in ring-contracted position.

Another object is to provide a novel latch construction of the character described which is rugged in construction, economical to manufacture, and reliable in operation.

. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and accompanying sheet of drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary, side elevational view of the end portions of a split clamping ring and structure for expanding and contracting the ring, including a swingable actuating lever and a latch construction embodying the features of the present invention;

4 FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the actuating lever and end portions of the split clamping ring shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded, fragmentary, perspective view showing additional details of the latch construction of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a somewhat enlarged transverse sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the end portions, indicated at 11 and 12, of a split clamping ring 13, are illustrated. The ring 13 is of the type employed to secure a flanged, circular cover (not shown) to the open end of a cylindrical container (also not shown). Such containers are conventionally of fiberboard or metal, and are used to ship or store powdered or granular material, as for example powdered chemicals, detergents, and the like. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ring 13 comprises an annular channelshaped, split, metal band having upper and lower radially extending flange portions 17 and 18, respectively, and an axially extending web portion 22. The lower flange 18 may be provided with an angularly outwardly and downwardly extending flange 23 which coacts with a groove around the upper end of the container when the ring 13 is mounted thereon.

Contraction of the ring 13 to clamp the latter around the upper end of an associated container is effected by a swingable lever 26 having one end 27 thereof hingedly mounted adjacent one end 28 of the ring 13. The lever 26 is preferably channel-shaped in cross section having upper and lower radially or outwardly extending flange portions 31 and 32 and a connecting web portion 33.

For hingedly securing the lever 26 to the ring 13, a channel-shaped bracket 36 is provided.- The bracket 36 includes a pair of spaced, radially outwardly extending flanges 37 and a web 38 connected to the inner radial edges of the flanges. The Web 38 is secured, as by rivets 39, to the web 22 of the ring 13- adjacent the end 28 thereof, and a pin 42 extends laterally through the upper and lower flanges 31 and 32 of the lever 26 and the flanges 37 of the bracket 36 for hingedly securing the lever to the bracket.

For translating pivotal movement of the lever 26 into expansion and contraction of the ring 13, a link 44 is provided. The link 44 preferably comprises a length of heavy wire bent into the shape of anelongated U having spaced arms 46 and a connecting portion 47. The connecting portion 47 of the link 44, in the present instance, is pivotally mounted in a bracket 50 secured to the other or I right end 51 of the ring 13, asviewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. The bracket 50 may be formed from a length of sheet metal strap stock folded upon itself to define a loop 53 (FIG. 2) at one end thereof for pivotally receiving the connecting portion 47 of the link 44. The bracket 50 may be secured to the web rivets 54.

In order to pivotally connect the outer or left ends of the link 44 to the lever 26, the former are inturned and disposed in transversely aligned openings 56 (FIG. 2) in the upper and lower flanges 31 and 32 of the lever 26. After insertion through the openings 56, the ends may be flattened as at 57 to prevent disengagement through the openings 56.

With the foregoing construction, it will be apparent that movement of the free end, indicated at 58, of the lever 26 away from the ring 13 will permit and/or cause the ends 28 and 51 of the ring 13 to separate so that the latter may be readily engaged around the'upper end of an associated container and its cover. Thereafter, the lever 26 may be swung toward the ring 13 to contract the latter. When the lever 26 is in its position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the free end 58 of the lever engaging the web 22 of the ring, tracted position tightly clamping the closure to the open end of the container. Since the containers of the type with which the ring 13 is adapted for use are frequently portion 22 of the ring 13 as by shipped over long distances and subjected to rough handling, it is desirable to provide some form of latch which the latter will be in fully conwill retain the lever 26 in its ring-contracted position and which will withstand the jars and stresses usually encountered during such shipment without impairment of operation. For this purpose the split clamping ring 13 includes a novel latch construction 60 embodying the features of the present invention.

The latch construction 60 thus comprises a latch arm 62 pivotally secured at one end, as by a rivet 63, to the outer or web portion 22 of the ring 13 such that one end of the arm 62 is swingable toward and away from the free end 58 of the lever 26. The latch arm 62 includes a radially extending flange portion 64 engageable flatwise with the outer side of the lower lever flange 32 and a plate portion 56 engageable with a flat portion 66 of the free end 58 of the lever 26 when the arm 62 is in its latching position with the lever 26, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When so positioned, the plate portion 65 main tains the free end 58 of the lever 26 engaged with the radially outer side face of the ring web 22.

The latch arm 62 may also be provided with a laterally outwardly extending tab 67 having an opening 68 therein, and a portion of the lower flange 32 of the lever 26 adjacent the tab 67 may be struckout to provide another tab 72 having an opening 73 therein. A length of safety wire (not shown) may be inserted through the openings 68 and 73 of the tabs to assure positive retention of the latch arm 62 in its latching position with the lever 26.

Thus, while positive retention of the latch arm 62 in its latching position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be achieved by inserting a length of safety wire through the openings 68 and 73 in the tabs 67 and 72, such a procedure is impractical and time consuming when the container on which the ring 13 is mounted is in use and the closure thereof will be removed frequently for access to the contents of the container. Consequently, it is desirable to provide rugged yet easily released means, in addition to the safety tabs 67 and 72, for retaining the latch arm 62 in a latching position with the free end of lever 26 so the latter will not be released unintentionally if the ring 13 and/ or associated container is accidentally bumped or jarred.

To this end, and according to the present invention, the free end 58 of the lever 26 includes an upraised housing portion 80 which is preferably formed integrally with the lever. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the housing portion 80 extends laterally or transversely of the lever 26 and includes an end or bottom wall 82, as viewed in FIG. 1, having an opening 83 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) therein. The opening 83 is adapted to receive a laterally extending projection or tongue 84 on the latch arm 62. Means are provided for normally retaining the tongue 84 within housing 80 after pivotal movement of the latch arm 62 to closed position. For example, the rivet 63 may provide a tight swivel mounting for the latch arm or the tongue 84 may have a snug frictional engagement with the edge of the opening 83. Preferably, however, the tongue 84 includes an upraised, laterally extending rib or detent 86 defining a shoulder 87 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) spaced from the outer end, indicated at 88, of the tongue 84. The shoulder 87 is adapted to engage the inner side of the end wall 82, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4, when the tongue 84 is fully engaged in the opening 83 to interlock the tongue 84 with the housing portion 80.

When thus interlocked, the latch arm 62 will not be disengaged from its latching position with the free end of the lever 26, even when the ring 13 and/or the associated container on which the ring is mounted are subjected to substantial bumping or jarring. The foregoing advantage is obtained because the tongue 84 is substantially fully enclosed and spaced from the outer wall of the housing portion as shown in FIGURE 4, when the latch arm 62 is in latching position with the lever 26 and because portions of the outer web 33 of the lever 26 adjacent each side of the housing portion 80 engage the web 22 of the ring at this time. Thus, as seen in FIG. 2, the portion of the lever web 33 to the left of the upraised housing 80, as designated at the reference numeral 58, engages the ring web 22, and the portion of the lever web 33 to the right of the housing 80, designated at 88, also engages the ring web 22. Consequently, shock or impact applied to the housing portion 80 are transmitted directly to the web 22 of the ring, rather than being applied to the tongue 84, and the latter is fully protected.

Although the construction of the lever 26 and the upraised housing 80 is preferably such that when the lever 26 is closed, the lever web 33' is in direct engagement with the ring web 22 at opposite sides of the housing 80, as shown at 58 and 88 in FIG. 2, in order to obtain the maximum protective elfect, it is also within the scope of the invention to have the lever web 33 spaced slightly from the ring web 22 at one or both sides of the housing 80 when the lever 26 is closed. Such spacing is permissible provided that upon impact against the housing 80 the lever web can engage or abut the ring web at opposite sides of the housing 80 and thereby transmit the forces to the ring web 22 without displacing the tongue 84. In other words, the web portions are in substantial engagement.

When it is desired to swing the latch arm 62 away from the free end 58 of the lever 26 to permit expansion of the ring 13, the tongue 84 may be readily shifted in the opening 83 to disengage the detent 86 from the inner side of the housing and wall 82 by applying downward pressure on the tab 67.

Since the shoulder 87 of the detent 86 coacts with the inner side of the housing end wall 82 adjacent the upper or radially outer portion of the margin of the opening 83, the material of the end wall 82 which defines the bottom or radially inner side of the opening 83 could be omitted.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the inventibn as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a split clamping ring having spaced ends, a swingable lever hingedly connected to said ring adjacent one end thereof and having a free end, and a link connecting said lever with the other end of said ring for expanding and contracting the latter, the improvement which comprises a latch construction for holding said lever in a ringcontracted position with at least the free end thereof engaging said ring, said latch construction comprising an upraised housing on said lever adjacent the free end thereof and having an opening therein and an outer wall, and a swingable latch arm mounted on said ring and having a portion engageable with the outside of said lever for retaining the latter in a ring-contracted position, said latch arm including a laterally extending latching tongue movable into said opening and into latching engagement with said housing upon movement of said latch arm into engagement with said lever, said tongue being spaced from said outer wall when in said latching engagement, and said lever having spaced portions at opposite sides of said housing adapted to be disposed in substantial engagement with said ring when said lever is in ring-contracting position and said latch arm is in latching engagement with said lever, whereby said housing protects said tongue when the latter is disposed in said opening and whereby impact applied to said housing is transmitted to said ring and not to said latch arm.

2. The structure of claim 1, further characterized in that said housing is formed integrally with said lever.

3. The structure of claim 1, further characterized by the provision of detent means on said tongue engageable with said housing for retaining said latch arm in engagement with said lever.

4. The latch construction of claim 1, further characterized in that said housing extends transversely of said lever and includes at least one lateral end wall, and said opening is formed in said lateral end wall.

5. The latch construction of claim 4, further characterized by the provision of a detent on said tongue having a shoulder engageable with the inner side of said lateral References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Carpenter et al. 292256.69

end wall when said latch arm is in latching engagement 1O MARVIN CHAMPION Pfimary Examiner- RICHARD E. MOORE, Examiner.

with said lever.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3 ,339 ,961 September 5 1967 Edward E. Schaefer It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below In the heading to the printed specification, lines 4 and 5 for "3813 N. Harlem Ave., Winnetka, I11. 60093" read 3813 N. Harlem Ave., Chicago, 111. 60634 column 2, line 60, after "in" insert a line 62, for "Since the containers" read Since containers column 3, line 14, for "56" read 65 line 52, for "are" read is Signed and sealed this 22nd day of October 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer 

1. IN A SPLIT CLAMPING RING HAVING SPACED ENDS, A SWINGABLE LEVER HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID RING ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF AND HAVING A FREE END, AND A LINK CONNECTING SAID LEVER WITH THE OTHER END OF SAID RING FOR EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING THE LATTER, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A LATCH CONSTRUCTION FOR HOLDING SAID LEVER IN A RINGCONTRACTED POSITION WITH AT LEAST THE FREE END THEREOF ENGAGING SAID RING, SAID LATCH CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING AN UPRAISED HOUSING ON SAID LEVER ADJACENT THE FREE END THEREOF AND HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN AND AN OUTER WALL, AND A SWINGABLE LATCH ARM MOUNTED ON SAID RING AND HAVING A PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH THE OUTSIDE OF SAID LEVER FOR RETAINING THE LATTER IN A RING-CONTRACTED POSITION, SAID LATCH ARM INCLUDING A LATERALLY EXTENDING LATCHING TONGUE MOVABLE INTO SAID OPENING AND INTO LATCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID HOUSING UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID LATCH ARM INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LEVER, SAID TONGUE BEING SPACED FROM SAID OUTER WALL WHEN IN SAID LATCHING ENGAGEMENT, AND SAID LEVER HAVING SPACED PORTIONS AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID HOUSING ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED IN SUBSTANTIAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RING WHEN SAID LEVER IS IN RING-CONTRACTING POSITION AND SAID LATCH ARM IS IN LATCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LEVER, WHEREBY SAID HOUSING PROTECTS SAID TONGUE WHEN THE LATTER IS DISPOSED IN SAID OPENING AND WHEREBY IMPACT APPLIED TO SAID HOUSING IS TRANSMITTED TO SAID RING AND NOT TO SAID LATCH ARM. 